No, still haven't come down yet. A fantastic, all-encompassing, life-changing, spiritual experience. It was utterly obvious from the minute the Abyssinians came on that this wasn't just a gig, it was a public ritual to envelope the people there assembled in the redemptive power of Love. And it worked. The slow, gentle, delicate drip-drip-drip of vocal harmonies slowly built up until I was bobbing on an ocean of compassion. For me, the peak came during "Going Home to Zion", which broke down to just the voices and the horns, endlessly cycling round a single refrain, and I felt ALL the pain of seperation from my family, and then ALL the relief of the love pouring from the stage, and an explosion of emotion burst from my stomach up through my spine and through the top of my head, and tears just flowed down my face. I needed a hug after that one.
Absolutely, totally, mind- blowing. Calling it "music" scarcely does it justice -- yes it was one of, if not the, best shows I've ever seen, but it was so much more than that.
What I can't believe is that they've been doing this for thirty, forty years, they're in their sixties, but they sound... just perfect. And I feel so, so lucky that I managed to go see them, because surely they won't be able to continue to be as good as this for many more years?
Anyone who gets a chance MUST go and see the Abyssinians -- they're doing a little tour right now so keep your eyes peeled...